‘Blockbuster’ Trade Proposal Sends Julius Randle To Rockets, Jabari Smith Jr. To Knicks

One NBA analyst proposed that the New York Knicks trade Julius Randle to the Houston Rockets for Jabari Smith Jr.

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Knicks and Rockets:

Houston Rockets Receive: PF Julius Randle

New York Knicks Receive: PF Jabari Smith Jr., C Jock Landale, F Jeff Green, 2027 first-round pick (top-five protected)

The Rockets missed the playoffs again in 2024, while the Knicks lost in the second round to the Indiana Pacers in seven games. 

“Randle, 28, is a Texas native who would bring balance to this young Rockets team,” Swartz wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “He averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game last season and would slide into a Houston starting five that also features Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Alperen Şengün. Smith, 21, has All-Star potential, but Randle is better suited to lead the Rockets into the playoffs now.

“For a Knicks team that still went 21-15 without Randle and reached the second round of the playoffs, this move is designed to increase future financial flexibility while staying in the title hunt now. Smith could start at power forward, or the Knicks could keep OG Anunoby at the four, allowing Josh Hart or Donte DiVincenzo to stay in the opening lineup as well.

“Smith has two years remaining on his rookie deal, while Landale and Green are either in the final year of their contract or have a non-guaranteed salary for next season. That would save the Knicks a lot of potential money in 2025 with a Randle extension off the table.”

Randle dislocated his right shoulder on January 27 against the Miami Heat and missed the rest of the 2023-24 season. 

The 29-year-old Randle appeared in 46 games in 2023-24. He averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks while shooting 47.2% from the field, 31.1% from beyond the arc and 78.1% from the free-throw line. 

Randle has career averages of 19.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Pelicans and Knicks. He was the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Lakers out of Kentucky. 

For the Rockets this past season, Smith Jr. averaged 13.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.8 blocks in 76 games while shooting 45.4% overall, 36.3% from 3 and 81.1% from the foul line. 

Houston drafted Smith Jr. with the third overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Auburn. The 21-year-old has career averages of 13.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.9 blocks.